Pgh Randos,

[Tom Hovan]

Your intrepid RBA Dan (and I) would like to solicit feedback on the preliminary route for this year's 600K.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50577351

Feedback or alternative suggestions are more than welcome.

Those accustomed to my previous attempts at 600K route design will note the pleasant lack of extreme climbing, and all non-pavement sessions being gentle rail trail affairs instead of jeep roads.

-Tom

[Dan Blumenfeld]

That looks quite pleasant overall.

Are there any segments about which you feel concern?

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[Tom Hovan]

There aren't really any parts of the route that I am concerned about.  Other than a couple very short sections on busy roads (mostly near the start/finish, which don't matter much since the time of day they will be done), the "worst" section will be the 11 miles on PA-45 west of Mifflinburg, but even that's quite decent.   Really, the rest of it is quite scenic with minimal traffic, and that's coming from a country mouse.  Major sections of the route are downright remote.  I consider that a good thing, but others may not.

The major concern is if anyone in the greater Pgh area is willing to drive to Altoona for the start/finish.  A 600K is a pretty major ride in most people's book, so doing 2 hours of driving before and after to do the ride doesn't seem like a major hardship to me, but then again I am used to doing that (or more) even for just a 200K.

My goal was to design a very safe 600 that was also as easy as I could make it.  I am happy to have kept the climbing down to only about 55 feet per mile, while keeping us off busy roads.  A lot of rando routes are in the 60-75 range.  

[Steven Kunsak]

I would drive to Altoona for this. I like how it follows the ridgeline and going from Lewisburg into Maryland is very cool. The roads used for last years 600k were wonderful,

quiet and low traffic. If it is anything like that it will be a delight.  

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[Tom Hovan]

Steve,

I would say this route is significantly easier than last year's 600K, with 4,500 ft less climbing and 70 miles less non-pavement, but still every bit as scenic and quiet.  So, I consider it an upgrade.  All of the non-pavement (only 32 miles of it) is easy rail trail. 

The first day, at 230 miles is 18 miles short of a 400K and only 50 feet of climbing per mile.  The second day is then, of course, 18 miles longer than a 200K, and climbing is higher at 65 feet per mile.  The 2nd day is also a bit more remote, with fewer opportunities to stop, which doesn't help.  So, the 2nd day is closer to being equal in difficulty to the first compared to how most 600Ks are structured (the 2nd day is still easier, but we're talking relative differences here).  The somewhat benign 1st day is meant to help give people (well, me) the ability/confidence to start the 2nd day.  At least that's the story I am sticking with.

The first day leads us NE towards the first control at Milroy.  Starting out in Pleasant Valley, shooting through the water gap at Canoe Creek.  Some of that route was used last year - the Lower trail, some of Stone Valley, and part of Kish Valley.  The Lower Trail is a bit boring but very usefully cuts through the hills of Morrisons Cove, and isn't too terribly long  (17 miles or so), and even some of it is paved.  Near its northern terminus it cuts through the Williamsburg Mtn water gap, and enters Stone Valley. Routing through water gaps and around the ends of ridges to stay in the valleys is a technique employed as much as possible, but some ridge crossings can't be helped.  Stone Valley is lumpy, but there are no big climbs.  But, then the first ridge climb arrives.  It is a ridge you crossed last year, but instead of the climb on gravel over Barrville Road, it's a pavement climb up PA-305 instead.  This gives us more miles in the Amish paradise of Big Valley (aka Kish Valley, aka Kishacoquillas Valley).  

The first control in Milroy is the Rutters - again same as last year, but reached in the AM, instead of around sunset.  From Milroy, instead of heading into the 7-Mtns region like last year, you instead stick to pavement going up through a very quiet "lost" Lancaster valley (a place only visited by campers and hunters) where you slowly gain elevation, and you jump over the ridge with a spiky, but relatively low elevation gain (400 feet) ridge climb at the end of the valley.  We pass through the little towns of Troxelville and Penns Creek, skirt around New Berlin Mountain and enter Buffalo Valley.  We will turn around at the Purple Cow Controle (with a great ice cream and fast food menu).  If their fare doesn't please, there is a Sheetz on the route just a few miles later.

Now heading SW we make our way through Buffalo Valley on PA-45 to our 3rd ridge climb of the day past the Hairy John Picnic area.  Now in Penns Valley, we follow some very mellow creek roads till we are forced away from them and back into the rolling hills that take into State College.  We control at a Sheetz (at this point, most likely eating an evening meal of sorts) near last year's overnight.  The route then follows the same route as last year through Half Moon Valley to a stop in Warrior's Mark, and onto Spruce Creek. Here, we deviate from last year;s route along the river to the entrance to SKinking valley, and instead we climb a short ridge that takes us back to the Lower Trail,near Alexandria.  IN the dark at this point, the route retraces its steps back to the overnight controle in Altoona.

Description of day 2 forthcoming......

-Tom

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[Tom Hovan]

Day 2 - This is largely the Rocky Gap 200K perm route, but extended a bit at its north end (the start and finish), and with one other modification.

We head south from Altoona, cutting through a water gap in Lock Mountain to Roaring Spring, then running south through the idyllic farmlands of Morrisons Cove. Just 18 miles into the day, we tackle the first of two ridge climbs of the day - or actually what is an elevated gap between Evitts Mtn. and Tussey Mtn.  It's not very long, but it's pretty steep. Notable here at the summit are remnants of trenches that the Union Army prepared for a possible advance towards Altoona by the Confederates to take the railroad hub there that never happened.  This brings us into the northern Friends Cove, then a stop in Everrett for our first major controle.  Stock up well, because it's going to be a difficult 50 miles before you can resupply.  

Heading south between Polish Mtn. and Warrior Ridge, the terrain is fairly lumpy, but not extreme, and extremely quiet. Then after a short climb up to Warriors's ridge, we follow that ridge till the hamlet of Chaneysville.  The road into Chaneysville isn't even quite two lanes in a lot of spots since it sees so little traffic.  We cut through Black Mtn water gap at Sweet Root creek and tackle a ridge climb up Tussey Mountain.  This climb is probably the hardest of the entire 600K.  It has a respectable 700 feet of elevation gain, but most significantly, it has a few steep bits in the 14-15% range.  WIth that behind us we have a rolling run down Beans Cove into MD and Rocky Gap Park.  .  A fast downhill to the west shuttles us to the southern end of Cumberland valley and we start heading north again.  We pass Lake Koon and tackle some fairly large hills, but thankfully no more ridge climbs for the time being, and finally reach a resupply point at Mom's Quick stop - an oasis in the middle of a mostly empty Cumberland valley.  

Leaving Mom, we continue on very quiet roads with some large hills, some over a mile long, but none very steep.  Most of them are pretty well shaded, which no doubt will be welcome given the time of day they will be traversed.  Then we pass through Bedford, and are forced out of the valley up a short, very steep climb into Briar Valley.  The last big hill of the day awaits, a partial climb up Evitts mountain.  Luckily we will turn off the climb about halfway up.  Another resupply in Claysburg Sheetz, and it's mostly sunshine and rainbows for another 20 miles to the finish.

Summing it up, most of the route is rural, there are only a few busy connectors here and there for limited mileage.  Pavement quality is good overall - no need for fat tires.  There are some big gaps in resupply spots, so you need to be able to bring at least 60oz of water on board - 80 or 100 would be better if it ends up being hot.

How's that sound?